Ageing well with a learning disability – are we getting it right?

The first Bracknell Forest and Windsor & Maidenhead Safeguarding Adults Board conference took place on Thursday 18th October. Highlighted as a growing area for development from several Safeguarding Adults Reviews, the conference focussed on exploring ageing for those with a learning disability and complex, changing health and social care needs as they approach the end of life. The conference brought together professionals involved in all aspects of this work to understand current issues within the national context.

The event at the Beaumont Conference Centre, Old Windsor was chaired by Terry Rich, Independent Chair of the Bracknell Forest and Windsor & Maidenhead Safeguarding Adult Board. The conference attracted 130 delegates including local practitioners and professionals from as far afield as Lichfield and several London boroughs.

Please see the programme for timings of the day; the speakers’ biographies are also available and below is a brief summary of what each speaker covered, with links to their presentations. These are also available via the links in the box on the right.

Friendly Bombs began the day with several drama pieces, whereby various aspects of old age were imagined and enacted. This served to focus the delegates on the people about whom the conference was focussed.

‘Inclusion of service users is crucial for any service provision. (Friendly Bombs were) great ambassadors for people with a Learning Disability!’

The context for the day arose from a SAR undertaken by the Bracknell Forest and Windsor & Maidenhead Safeguarding Adults Board, and was introduced by Julie Foster. Click here for her presentation

‘…the day was enjoyable, informative and engaging.’

Madeline Cooper-Ueki (National Development Team for Inclusion) and Anne Corrigan introduced the voice of the user, with Anne being very articulate about her experiences of social care!

Dr Fiona Lisney (Consultant in premature Ageing and diagnostic overshadowing in people with learning disabilities) highlighted the differences in treatment and attitudes to those with learning difficulties compared to those without. Click here for her presentation.

‘Ageing individuals with LD are the same as everyone else, need the same care but in special ways to accommodate them.’

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service reminded the delegates of all the areas in which they are able to offer support – from the use of assistive technology to the free Home Fire Safety Check. Click here for their presentation.

The rationale for and findings of the LeDeR programme were introduced by Robert Tunmore (NHS England, regional co-ordinator for LeDeR programme). Click here for his presentation.

The presentations concluded with Dr. Jean O’Hara giving the national picture and an overview of the differences in terms of both health and care of those with learning disabilities compared to those without.

All six speakers provided much food for thought, as summarised effectively at the close by Terry Rich, the Board’s Independent chair.

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